Military career: Starting with a recruitment letter

Chapter 240 Solving the Case: The Scholar Gains a Slight Advantage

"stop!"

"If I don't stand, am I stupid enough to stand there?"

"You little brat, don't let me catch you."

"Old man, I definitely won't let you catch me." Chen Mo blurted out, wanting to curse, "Old man, you have no martial ethics," but after thinking about it, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to say it.

This is the director's office, you know. He can run away, but he absolutely cannot talk back or curse. Otherwise, if the higher-ups hear him, who knows what they'll do to him later.

After all, some people aren't very forgiving, and if they say something wrong, they're more likely to get beaten up.

People passing by who were having breakfast nearby mostly stopped eating and started squatting in the shade of the trees in small groups to watch the show.

"Old Wang, keep it up! You're getting old, and your legs aren't as nimble as they used to be. I remember you were the fastest runner in our division back in the day."

"I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget. Stop talking nonsense and help me hold this kid down."

Wang Songhe responded in a fit of rage.

Don't even say it.

The connections of that division commander are truly impressive; with just a few words, several veteran cadres stood up and smiled as they helped to stop people.

Fortunately, Chen Mo was hardworking in the reconnaissance company. When he was ambushed by four or five people, he managed to dodge them by dodging left and right.

"Heh, this kid's got talent."

In the distance, at the entrance of the auditorium, the chief director, Fu Hongyi, spoke with a smile.

A group of people nearby laughed along.

There aren't many things to do in the military camp, so this spectacle that unfolded so early in the morning was quite a unique experience for the garrison.

Everyone present understood why Wang Songhe was angry; it was the experimental exercise of the second phase of the mechanization transformation.

The entire division had been preparing for nearly nine months, and they were relying on this exercise to make a name for themselves and apply for more resources next year.

If we really want to discuss it...

In the Seventh Combat Zone, the overall strength of the Red Army Division was no match for that of the Blue Army Division, and this was not solely due to the fact that the Blue Army was the host country.

Even though they are both Class A divisions, the 61st Division is known as the Northern Motorized Infantry Division, representing the face of the Jincheng Military Region. This is not an honor that can be given away so casually.

Rather, it's a real record of achievements.

Now, however, he has become the first division commander in the nine combat zones to have his command post destroyed. This enmity is truly immense.

The two sides chased each other for about six or seven minutes.

Fu Hongyi waved his hand and said, "Alright, stop making a scene. If you keep going, it won't look good."

"Have both of them come over here."

"Yes!"

Xu Wu'an, the commander-in-chief of the 47th Army, nodded in response and strode to the edge of the square west of the 10th Company in front of the auditorium.

No words need to be said.

The presence of a high-ranking official with a star on his shoulder is more effective than any words. Chen Mo, seeing that someone was interfering, grinned and quickly ran to Xu Wu'an.

Stop! Stand at attention! Salute!

"Hello, Chief!"

"Ok!"

When Commander Xu saw the young man in front of him, he didn't have much of a temper and gave a lukewarm response.

After all, the 61st Division was one of his subordinate units. Who would be happy to see it wrecked like this by the informationized battalion?

In other words, they valued their status and didn't want to stoop to the level of juniors.

Otherwise, he would have wanted to measure the size of Chen Mo's cheek with his big feet and give him a good kick to vent his anger.

When Wang Songhe saw his boss approaching, he knew the farce had to end.

He stopped chasing, strolled over, glanced at Chen Mo, and snorted coldly.

His dissatisfaction and resentment were written all over his face.

"Alright, Lao Wang, don't get angry with the younger generation. You also have an unshirkable responsibility. Think about how to respond to the leader's inquiry later."

"You two, come here! Chasing each other like this so early in the morning, aren't you ashamed?"

Xu Wu'an gave a couple of irritating rebukes and turned to walk towards the auditorium.

Wang Songhe quickly straightened his military uniform. He was truly stunned with anger. He turned his head and saw that the kid surnamed Chen was actually imitating him and straightening his uniform as well.

Old Wang bared his teeth, forcibly suppressing his anger.

He quickly followed in Xu Wu'an's footsteps.

Chen Mo, on the other hand, lingered for a while, deliberately keeping a distance from the two of them, before walking into the auditorium.

It was lunchtime, and there weren't many people in the auditorium.

Fu Hongyi, the commander-in-chief of the Kyoto Military Region, is here, as is Pang Haifeng, the commander-in-chief of the Jincheng Military Region.

A group of high-ranking officials were present. Chen Mo glanced up at them and immediately sighed.

A feeling of "my life is over" welled up inside me.

He had served under commanders and as a confidential secretary, so he knew very well what the military discipline of the field army was all about.

That's completely different from what's portrayed in TV dramas. In front of these old men, the vulgar idea that "spare the rod and spoil the child" has always been prevalent.

Seeing Chen Mo standing timidly at the entrance of the auditorium, hesitant to come in.

Fu Hongyi grinned: "This kid is pretty cunning."

"Come here, what are you doing standing so far away?"

"Don't worry, no one's going to cause you any trouble."

"Of course not," Chen Mo muttered to himself, but he couldn't show it on his face. He pretended to be obedient and incredibly moved.

They strode into the auditorium.

As Chen Mo walked in, Fu Hongyi's kind and friendly face gradually froze.

He then stood up and slammed his hand on the conference table with a "thud".

Outside the door, five or six guards heard the commotion and rushed over.

"Do you think you can dodge it? You bastard, you think you're so tough?"

"You dare to use the idea of ​​salvaging casualties in peacetime? I think you're tired of living. Let me show you what the ruthless side of a field army is like."

"Grab this kid and give him a good beating!"

Fu Hongyi personally gave the order.

The guards dared not disobey, and in an instant, the entire auditorium was filled with pig-like screams.

It sounds like he got beaten up pretty badly.

In reality, Chen Mo's approach is like an old sow rooting in the ground—all talk and no action.

He hid and moved around the entire auditorium; the guards didn't really beat him, and neither did the people above.

However, the people from the Kyoto Military Region used the Jincheng Military Region's exercise site to conduct experiments, ultimately embarrassing a Class A division.

Surely the people from the Jincheng Military Region have to swallow this insult?

The information technology experiment was spearheaded by people from Kyoto, so why are you causing such a mess to our division?

The unit, known as the Northern Class A Motorized Infantry Division, suffered a defeat in the exercise, and its commander was almost captured. This has an impact that goes beyond just the question of whether the exercise was won or lost.

Logically and emotionally, Chen Mo couldn't avoid this beating, and of course, he was beaten in front of so many people.

Privately, from the leaders to the officers, and even the soldiers, everyone in the Jincheng Military Region could no longer complain about this matter.

We must not engage in any private retaliation; this is to protect Chen Mo and also for better cooperation in the future.

Chen Mo knew this would happen, which is why he shouted so enthusiastically.

He took three punches and two kicks, and although his skin wasn't broken and his flesh wasn't red, he screamed like he was squeezing out pus. He looked absolutely miserable.

Even the indignant Wang Songhe couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow for the fallen.

In a system experiment, failure is failure. He acknowledged the power of information technology, but he was still furious about Chen Mo's actions on the battlefield.

To reach the rank of division commander, he had been severely beaten by the old men of various military regions in the past.

Among the cadres present, very few, if any, could squeeze into such an occasion at Chen Mo's age.

After being beaten up until Pang Haifeng, the commander-in-chief of the Jincheng Military Region, picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip of tea.

Fu Hongyi waved his hand, signaling the guards to leave.

After being beaten up, Chen Mo reached out and tugged at the hem of his clothes. Instead of youthful resentment, his face showed a look of relief.

In such situations, if a young person shows any signs of arrogance or defiance, it may be the last time they appear in a similar setting.

Pang Haifeng had never met this young man before. Seeing how composed he was, a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes. He took a cigarette from the cigarette pack on the table and handed it to Fu Hongyi.

Then he laughed and said, "Lieutenant Chen, you've offended quite a few people this time."

Chen Mo straightened his chest. Offending people was unavoidable, and it was normal.

The efforts of tens of thousands of people over half a year have all gone to waste. It would be strange if some senior officers were not emotional about it.

I have no emotion. Why did I get beaten up just now?

No one is perfect, and it's impossible to be without faults. Having emotions is understandable, but it doesn't mean you can condone them. He came from the future and knew very well that the Blue Army's organization and combat methods were the most mature.

Moreover, the Blue Team was created without any bottom line, which is why it is regarded as the real bottom line. There is a reason why the Blue Team can become a whetstone.

Besides, there's an even more ruthless future Blue Army brigade commander who hasn't appeared yet—the one who simulates nuclear strikes at the drop of a hat and reneges on his promises of Red Army casualties at the drop of a hat.

Which one is more infuriating than the so-called "non-wartime losses" that we create ourselves?

Since the advent of the mechanized era, field armies have not experienced large-scale wars, so some bottom lines are better left unaddressed.

"Commander, I have my reasons!" Chen Mo replied with his head held high.

"Oh?"

Pang Haifeng, the commander-in-chief of the Jincheng Military Region, was surprised that the young man in front of him would actually defend him. He looked at Fu Hongyi with interest and smiled, "Shall we have a chat?"

"Then let's talk," Chen Mo said sincerely.

"Commander, I know that some of the battles fought during this informationized battalion's experiment went too far."

"Commander Wang still holds a grudge to this day."

As Chen Mo spoke, he deliberately glanced at Wang Songhe. This made the old Wang, who had been listening intently, immediately say irritably, "Why are you looking at me? Just keep talking."

"Okay! Sure."

Chen Mo responded and continued, "When I first joined the army, my squad leader was a second-level professional sergeant, and now he has been promoted to a fifth-level sergeant."

“My squad leader was an outstanding soldier. He told me a story when I had just been awarded my rank and became a real soldier.”

"This story was supposedly told by my class monitor's class monitor."

"That's about the shape of the enemy."

"The shape of the enemy?" Pang Haifeng narrowed his eyes. "That's an interesting way of putting it."

"You go on."

"Yes!"

Chen Mo nodded: "This story takes place in a conflict in a certain region; it's just a small episode in the overall battle."

"There are only a few enemies, not even troops, at most just a bunch of militants."

“They were bored, so at the place where the conflict happened, they grabbed a girl, a little girl who was about eight or nine years old, and told her that if she could endure not crying, shouting, blocking, or cursing while they were cutting off her legs, they would let her go.”

"The child was terrified and agreed to all the militants' demands."

"But those cuts on the knee were too slow and too painful, and the child couldn't help but instinctively reach out to block them."

"This enraged the militants; how dare the little girl disobey them?"

"Sir, this is the shape of the enemy. This exercise is not actual combat, but it is required to be on the scale of actual combat."

"Since this is a real battle, then the enemy I face, even if it is a hypothetical enemy, should be this kind of hypothetical enemy."

"That's why I'll stop at nothing, spare no effort, and try every possible means to eliminate the enemy."

Chen Mo let out a long breath and finished telling his story.

During the experimentation period, the informationized battalion made numerous mistakes in tactical and operational arrangements, accepting punishment and even being beaten.

But he cannot admit this mistake.

Otherwise, if we go to the battlefield again, do we have to put up a banner, beat drums and gongs and write slogans to tell people that we are coming to fight them?
Chen Mo told this story in a calm and composed manner.

However, many of the leaders present were furious, and the air conditioning in the auditorium seemed to drop several degrees.

Because most of the leaders present had experienced similar wars, they knew the story was true.

It was even more than ten times crueler than what Chen Mo described.

It must be said that Chen Mo's title of "scholar" was not without reason, after hearing this story.

Even Wang Songhe's anger had subsided considerably and was now almost negligible.

Pang Haifeng remained calm and said nothing.

Instead, Fu Hongyi, who hadn't spoken for a while, nodded slightly and said, "I agree with Lieutenant Chen's point of view."

"In every period of peace in history, ordinary people believe they live in a civilized society, but they don't. Otherwise, looking back at history, what are two-legged sheep?"

"War is a catastrophe. We have suffered more than any other nation, with our population decreasing by tens of millions."

"And the little girl in Lieutenant Chen's story just now, her experience is something we just went through decades ago, as if it happened yesterday."

"This hatred will never be forgotten. When it happens to an individual, it is called a tragedy, but when it happens to a nation, it is a shame that can never be washed away and can never be forgotten!"

Silence remained in the auditorium for a long time.

Bringing up this kind of topic so early in the morning is indeed a bit heavy.

But this was Chen Mo's honest opinion: abandoning illusions and preparing for war is what soldiers should do most.

How many normal people would dare to look at the declassified materials from a certain experimental unit, Unit 731?
But the enemy dared to do it.

After a long silence, Chen Mo finally spoke: "Commander, you think the combat process of this information technology experiment went too far. Please forgive my bluntness, but I accept the punishment, but I do not agree that it went too far."

“It’s incredibly boring for soldiers to talk about bottom lines and lofty ideals on the battlefield. Since the troops have already been moved from their garrisons to the battlefield, why not have a big battle?”

"Winning or losing depends on one's own ability."

"I really liked Commander Wang at the beginning of the war. Back then, he actually mobilized a fighter squadron to wipe out one of our battalions."

"But I didn't like the later Commander Wang. The armored firepower on the eastern front was depleted, and it lost its reliance. It became hesitant and timid in battle. Even if the eastern front had no firepower support, it should have been abandoned decisively."

"By combining the main forces in the Northwest and the main forces in the South, we can penetrate the Red Army and take advantage of the Blue Army's air superiority. This battle can still be fought."

Upon hearing this, Pang Haifeng glanced at Wang Songhe and then gestured for Chen Mo to continue.

"Commander, my knowledge is limited, but I believe that since there are red and blue forces on the battlefield, we should retaliate in kind and settle scores directly during combat."

"Use the dirtiest methods to deal with the enemy, because no matter how dirty we are, we can't compare to even one-tenth or one-hundredth of the real enemy."

"We lack such people. Whether soldiers are used to defend peace or to attack is a matter of opinion, and everyone has their own views."

"But war cannot allow pedantic scholars to rise up and brave men to die, and from then on, the land of China began to boast of benevolence and righteousness."

"Benevolence and righteousness, as well as lofty ideals, are all illusions of soldiers. Once war breaks out, there is no need to talk about bottom lines. Setting the bottom line too high will make us forget what is truly shocking."

Chen Mo continued speaking alone.

Everyone in the auditorium was listening.

Of course, as a leader, few people would genuinely enjoy being lectured by a junior.

However, Chen Mo first used the shape of the enemy as a starting point for the discussion, which can be considered as successfully clearing away the various violations of the Blue Army's operations in this battle.

Back when I last left the 184th Regiment's base.

Chen Mo had a vague feeling that the Blue Army camp should no longer exist on the battlefield.

Firstly, if you come here under the guise of an experiment, you should withdraw after the experiment is over.

Secondly, if the balance of a combat zone is broken and a Class A division fails to perform to its full potential for various reasons, not only will months of preparation be wasted.

It wasn't just that many officers looked grim; the defeat meant that by the end of the year, thousands, or even more, of the soldiers would leave the army.

The price is too high, too heavy.

We waited until the people who had breakfast outside the auditorium gradually returned, their footsteps clearly reaching inside.

Pang Haifeng waved his hand and said, "Lieutenant Chen's point of view is not wrong, but you are still young and do not understand the specifics in some situations."

"But I approve of your report."

"Wang Songhe".

"To!"

Upon hearing his superior call his name, Old Wang quickly straightened his chest.

“Chen Mo is young and may not be able to think things through. As a senior, you should be encouraging and reminding him, instead of causing this farce today.”

"Report, no, I realize my mistake."

Wang Songhe hurriedly shook his head. This damn scholar has even persuaded the leaders above. What else can he do?
"Not only do you realize it, but you also need to conduct a thorough self-examination and reflect on the mistakes you made in command this time."

"Alright, the morning's operation is about to begin. You two go back and write a thorough report on this operation."

“During the debriefing meeting, I specifically asked you to come up on stage and speak.”

"Yes!"

Wang Songhe's face darkened. Damn it, being good with words really works.

After all that, I have to do a thorough self-criticism and write a battle report, while that kid surnamed Chen got away with nothing.
What the hell is this!
But since the leader had spoken, Chen Mo had to leave. However, before leaving, he looked up at Fu Hongyi sitting in front of him.

They noticed that Commander Fu had a smile on his lips, a victorious air about him, and waved slightly to signal them to leave.

Chen Mo then strode out of the auditorium with his head held high and chest out.

To put it bluntly, what happened today was that the higher-ups wanted to settle the "case" of this Seventh War Zone operation.

If Chen Mo fails to grasp the key points and gets thoroughly criticized by the Jincheng Military Region, Fu Hongyi will also lose face both privately and on the surface.

But he stirred things up like this.

Regardless of what the leaders of the Jincheng Military Region are thinking, things are as they are in Kyoto.

This completely silenced their criticisms.

(End of this chapter)